Explosion at Oil India tank farm in Assam kills 1, injures 6

A fire and explosion at Oil India Limited's Intermediate Tank Farm in Tengakhat, Dibrugarh district, Assam, killed one contract worker and injured six others on Friday morning (November 6), the company said. The blaze broke out around 9:05 a.m. during maintenance work and has been brought under control.

Blast in the crude storage section

According to Oil India, the explosion occurred in the crude oil storage section while workers were operating a valve during routine maintenance. The blast was followed instantly by a major fire and thick black smoke. The company's own fire service responded immediately and brought the blaze under control.

One dead, six injured — all contract workers

The deceased has been identified as Raju Dutta, a contract worker. Six others sustained burn injuries; five were taken to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh and one to Oil India's own hospital. Five of the injured have been named as Tapas Gogoi, 40, Shailen Gogoi, 45, Kumud Gogoi, 38, Golap Dutta, 58, and Indra Gogoi, 40.

All seven were employees of Mumbai-based Spectron Engineers Pvt Ltd, a contractor engaged by Oil India for maintenance at the facility. One worker was initially reported missing, said to have been thrown some distance by the force of the blast; he was later confirmed to be Dutta.

Cause under investigation

The exact cause of the explosion has not been established. Oil India said it has launched a high-level investigation. The contractor's area manager told ANI the work under way was routine maintenance of machinery serviced monthly or quarterly.

The Tengakhat Intermediate Tank Farm is a key crude collection and storage facility for Oil India in Assam. The company said it would share further details as the investigation progresses.